Released on December 6, 2018
Today, December 6, is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. The day commemorates the deaths of 14 female engineering students who were targeted and killed at Montreal’s Ecolé Polytechnique in 1989, because they were women.
“December 6 provides us with a day to remember the women who have lost their lives through violence, or who face violence in their lives today,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Tina Beaudry-Mellor said. “It is crucial that we as a province work together to prevent violence against women and girls in our communities.”
Today in the Legislature, MLAs will wear a white ribbon to show their support to end and prevent violence against girls and women. The white ribbon campaign was launched in 1991 to raise awareness about and condemn gender-based violence, and to promote gender equality.
The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to ending violence against women and girls in Saskatchewan. The province has developed new programs and policies in response to the Domestic Violence Death Review and to assist those dealing with gender-based violence.
These include:
- the launch of the Legal Information and Advice for Survivors of Sexual Violence (Listen Project);
- the implementation of a new policy with the Saskatchewan Police Commission regarding the conduct of investigations into incidents of intimate partner violence, and
- interpersonal violence awareness training for conservation officers and highway patrol officers.
The government also introduced the Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol Act (Clare’s Law) and expanded the Status of Women Office to oversee the implementation of the Domestic Violence Death Review recommendations and develop a plan to address interpersonal violence and abuse with provincial partners and other ministries.
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For more information, contact:
Brook Thalgott
Status of Women Office
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3716
Email: brook.thalgott@gov.sk.ca